Stick to a summer holiday routine

It seems the school holidays seem to take forever to ‘roll around’, yet when they do arrive they can often leave parents feeling overwhelmed and frantic to keep everyone happy.

A summer holiday routine can be necessary for your sanity, making the transition back to school time a lot smoother in the long run.

So, as the holidays are now in full swing, here are our top survival tips to prevent the holiday slump and make the back to school mornings a little easier:

• Consistent eating habits:

Sticking to the same meal times, not only reduces your family’s chance of moodiness but also prevents unhealthy snacking between meals.

Make sure you make time for breakfast!

There’s a reason it’s known as the most important meal of the day.

As well as improving concentration and endurance, it prevents irritability and lethargy, meaning your family will be ready and raring to go for holiday activities and family adventures.

“By ensuring your whole family makes time for breakfast, you’ll increase your daily intake of healthy vitamins and minerals like thiamine (or Vitamin B1), which increases your energy for the day,” said Breakfasts for Better Days™ dietician, Cheryl Meyer.

• Minimum screen time:

It’s easy for children to get into the habit of wasting hours in front of the TV, with studies showing that on average, children spend 10-and-a-half hours in front of a device.

Eliminate their need for TV time, by setting up cheap craft activities – or encourage them to play outside.

“We all know it’s very easy for children to waste hours in front of the TV, but as a family you should avoid this habit – taking particular care not to eat in front of a screen.

“If you’re distracted during meal times, you’re more likely to overeat which can contribute to unhealthy weight gain in the long run,” Cheryl Meyer added.

• Take it outdoors:

After breakfast, taking inside activities outside, is the best way to get your kids out of the door.

A picnic blanket with books to read, buckets and a sandpit, or painting are relatively hassle-free fun that mean they can absorb some much needed vitamin D (and tear them away from the iPad!).

Try placing a bucket outside filled with sunscreen and hats, for quick and easy grabs when necessary.

“Despite South Africa’s top temperatures, many of us are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency.

“Looking after your Vitamin D levels, means you can protect your bones and encourages healthy growth, so absorb some healthy sun-rays when you have the opportunity.

“Go out in the sun two or three times a week for 15 minutes at a time, to help your body create enough vitamin D,” said Meyer.

• Warm-up week:

As the return to school gets closer, make sure you are preparing your children properly, by synching their sleeping pattern back to term time.

If late nights have been a thing in your house, make sure the week before your child goes back to school, they slowly become accustomed to the times they go to bed during school terms.

“It’s vital that children get enough sleep, so they can concentrate properly at school and perform at their best.

“It’s fine to have times where your child goes to bed a little later, but having an adjustment week before, will minimise the shock to the family’s routine,” Meyer said.